Post by Beechnut on May 1, 2019 15:38:03 GMT
I finally defeated the pesky starlings getting the mealworms from my Scott feeders this year.
As I always have GTs I have to use a larger diameter hole than for BTs, so the starlings could get their heads in and by turning in all directions, including hanging upside down, managed to extract mealies by using their tongues. This of course restricted the GTs from using the feeders as starlings rarely come in ones - there's usually 2 or 3 at least.
Anyway as well as using cable ties and garden wire to reduce the mesh size round the bottom half of the feeder (as advised by Paul initially) I have now cut a hole in the bottom of the feeder and fit into it an empty (!) 120g Yeo Valley yoghurt pot (Fruity Favourites), which has a rim round the top to prevent it falling through, and it's transparent so you can see when the contents require topping up.
I fit the disc/plate with the hole in as high as possible to ensure that starlings can't reach the top of the mealies, but since I have done this, I haven't had a starling anywhere near the Scotties - they tried the first day that I did it, but eventually cottoned on to the fact that they would have to get their easy pickings elsewhere!
Obviously any plastic type pot would suffice, preferably tapered, a regular 4-sided one would be easier to cut a hole for - the choice is yours, it's just that I love Yeo Valley Fruity Favourites!
As I always have GTs I have to use a larger diameter hole than for BTs, so the starlings could get their heads in and by turning in all directions, including hanging upside down, managed to extract mealies by using their tongues. This of course restricted the GTs from using the feeders as starlings rarely come in ones - there's usually 2 or 3 at least.
Anyway as well as using cable ties and garden wire to reduce the mesh size round the bottom half of the feeder (as advised by Paul initially) I have now cut a hole in the bottom of the feeder and fit into it an empty (!) 120g Yeo Valley yoghurt pot (Fruity Favourites), which has a rim round the top to prevent it falling through, and it's transparent so you can see when the contents require topping up.
I fit the disc/plate with the hole in as high as possible to ensure that starlings can't reach the top of the mealies, but since I have done this, I haven't had a starling anywhere near the Scotties - they tried the first day that I did it, but eventually cottoned on to the fact that they would have to get their easy pickings elsewhere!
Obviously any plastic type pot would suffice, preferably tapered, a regular 4-sided one would be easier to cut a hole for - the choice is yours, it's just that I love Yeo Valley Fruity Favourites!